THE ROUND 22 clash between Carlton and Hawthorn is already being built up as a final before the finals.

But given that game will be largely meaningless if the Blues don't beat Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night, Chris Judd and his teammates will be solely focusing on this week's opponent.

"We won't be distracted at all," the Carlton skipper said at Visy Park on Monday.

"Freo need to win this game to finish in the top eight. We're playing on their home turf and they're a really good side.

"I watched them play against Sydney up in Sydney a couple of weeks ago and they played terrific footy.

"We've got a healthy respect for them and what they’re doing, and I'm sure the players won't be looking any further ahead than this week's game."

The Blues are in fourth place, but many expect West Coast to leapfrog them because of the Eagles' game in hand and soft draw.

"The main thing for us to focus on is playing good footy for the remainder of the season," Judd said.

"We've got a big challenge this week against Freo. We've got a lot of improvement left and this week's just another chance to get that underway."

Carlton thrashed Melbourne by 76 points at the MCG on Saturday in one of many blowout results for the round (Geelong beat Gold Coast by 150 points and Collingwood thumped Port Adelaide by 138).

Now in his 10th season at the highest level, Judd believes the one-sided matches are a concern.

"I think there's probably a wider gap this year than there has been in years gone by, and I guess with more teams that will just increase," he said.

"It's one of the dangers we have. You look at the NBA and they play 70-odd games and a lot of those games are pretty average to watch.

"Then the play-offs come and it's a completely different game they're playing.

"It would be a shame if AFL got to that stage, and I'm not sure if it will.

"But it's certainly something that the league needs to be wary of."

Meanwhile, an online bookmaker announced on Monday it had already paid out on Brownlow bets on Judd, declaring him past the post.

The company said it had paid out more than $300,000 on Judd's 'win'.